❓ Ms McGurk questions the government's decision to reallocate funds from the Fremantle traffic bridge replacement project, citing safety concerns after a vessel collision. The Minister responds by outlining planned safety measures and criticising the previous government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 582Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FREMANTLE
BRIDGE
582. Ms S.F. McGURK to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the commercial vessel that hit the Fremantle rail bridge and
a report from Main Roads Western Australia that identified the risk of the
adjacent traffic bridge collapsing from being hit by a vessel was 66 times
above acceptable standards.
(1) Why did the Liberal–National
government lift $77 million out of the budget for the replacement of the
Fremantle traffic bridge?
(2) When is this at-risk traffic bridge going to be replaced by this
government?
(3) Why is the installation of the concrete
and steel system needed to protect the rail bridge against marine vessels not
expected to start until 2015?
BRIDGE
582. Ms S.F. McGURK to the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the commercial vessel that hit the Fremantle rail bridge and
a report from Main Roads Western Australia that identified the risk of the
adjacent traffic bridge collapsing from being hit by a vessel was 66 times
above acceptable standards.
(1) Why did the Liberal–National
government lift $77 million out of the budget for the replacement of the
Fremantle traffic bridge?
(2) When is this at-risk traffic bridge going to be replaced by this
government?
(3) Why is the installation of the concrete
and steel system needed to protect the rail bridge against marine vessels not
expected to start until 2015?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The member has raised a
couple of points and I will cover each of them. Building a new bridge does not
necessarily take the risk away. The remaining life expectancy of the traffic
bridge is 10 to 15 years and the life expectancy of the rail bridge is another
40 years. Those bridges will be replaced in due course. This government
commissioned a study and determined that it did not believe that the risks are
acceptable, so the Liberal–National government is putting in action a
plan to address that risk, which is something the opposition failed to do while
it was in government. It did nothing about this issue; it is the same
risk issue that has existed for a long, long time.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : What are we doing? We are implementing an early warning system
on the rail. The tender recommendation report is being finalised and is due for
release on 29 August, so we are talking in 10 days' time.
Ms
S.F. McGurk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Fremantle!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The final design, approval and commissioning is an estimated
five-month program of work, so it is expected to be finished early in 2015.
There is also the pier protection. The scope and design of the pier protection
includes five protection dolphins consisting of six poles driven into the
riverbed with a steel truss jacket structure and concrete cap. The tenders are
due to be released for a combined road and rail bridge works on 12 September
this year and work is due to start early next year to be completed by early
2016.
This government is active in this situation. There was an
expectation. An independent audit from the port authority assessed that the
shoal waters there would not allow a ship of this size to crash into the rail
bridge. It is something that has occurred that was unexpected. In the short
term, our focus is to get this rail bridge back up and running again as quickly
as possible. That is our primary focus. Following that, we will review both the
port and the rail safety mechanisms to ensure that they are adequate, and to
the extent that they are not, we will improve processes.
couple of points and I will cover each of them. Building a new bridge does not
necessarily take the risk away. The remaining life expectancy of the traffic
bridge is 10 to 15 years and the life expectancy of the rail bridge is another
40 years. Those bridges will be replaced in due course. This government
commissioned a study and determined that it did not believe that the risks are
acceptable, so the Liberal–National government is putting in action a
plan to address that risk, which is something the opposition failed to do while
it was in government. It did nothing about this issue; it is the same
risk issue that has existed for a long, long time.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : What are we doing? We are implementing an early warning system
on the rail. The tender recommendation report is being finalised and is due for
release on 29 August, so we are talking in 10 days' time.
Ms
S.F. McGurk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Fremantle!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The final design, approval and commissioning is an estimated
five-month program of work, so it is expected to be finished early in 2015.
There is also the pier protection. The scope and design of the pier protection
includes five protection dolphins consisting of six poles driven into the
riverbed with a steel truss jacket structure and concrete cap. The tenders are
due to be released for a combined road and rail bridge works on 12 September
this year and work is due to start early next year to be completed by early
2016.
This government is active in this situation. There was an
expectation. An independent audit from the port authority assessed that the
shoal waters there would not allow a ship of this size to crash into the rail
bridge. It is something that has occurred that was unexpected. In the short
term, our focus is to get this rail bridge back up and running again as quickly
as possible. That is our primary focus. Following that, we will review both the
port and the rail safety mechanisms to ensure that they are adequate, and to
the extent that they are not, we will improve processes.
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